Carsten Suhr Jacobsen, Professor and Head of Department, has received a grant from The Danish Environmental Protection Agency on DKK 1.899.150 (entire project budget is DKK 3.199.465)  for the project NoNewBAM that studies herbicide use on non-cropped areas such as pavements and parking lots in the city.

Microbial diversity and activity is known often to be lower in non-cropped areas compared to agricultural fields. Since herbicides always are tested on agricultural fields, the low microbial activity and low content of organic matter of non-cropped areas may lead to increased leaching when used here.

Historical use of herbicides on non-cropped areas has led to huge problems with groundwater contamination – including the metabolite BAM that is responsible for destruction of approximately 40% of all water production wells that have been closed due to contamination.

The study will be carried out in a collaboration between AU-ENVS, GEUS and AAU.

For further information please contact Carsten Suhr Jacobsen at csj@envs.au.dk.